Pros: Easy to carry around, combination of carbohydrates and caffeine in some flavors.
Cons: A bit difficult to swallow! The regular price is expensive.
The Bottom Line: I am recommending this because it seems to give me a boost which is what it is intended for. 3 stars because I like Carbo Rush better.
I have recently come to like many PowerBar products so when I saw Power Gel in the store next to the gym in which I work out I bought a few packs.
What is Power Gel:
This was my first experience with a gel product. It comes in a little 1.4-fluid ounce foil package. The top of it has slits to tear it open like you would a sample of shampoo. We are told that it is made by athletes for athletes. It is a concentrated carbohydrate gel, which comes in many flavors. I have only had the tangerine flavor because it contains the most caffeine. This Gel comes in both caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavors. Since it also contains 28 grams of carbohydrates, apparently the company is targeting both the person who wants the extra boost of caffeine or the one who doesn’t want the caffeine but does want the energy that both the simple and complex carbohydrates in Power Gel offers.
The flavors with caffeine are Green Apple, Chocolate and Strawberry Banana with 25 mg. of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of drip coffee has between 115-175 mg. of caffeine. Twelve ounces of Dr. Pepper has 41 mg. so as you can see 25 mg. is not what will be doing the pushing in these flavors unless perhaps you never drink caffeine. Tangerine has 50 milligrams of caffeine. That might be close to the mug of coffee I have in the morning. Power Bar Power Gel has a formula the company calls a “Booster Blend” of caffeine, kola nut extract and ginseng. Raspberry Cream, Vanilla, Lemon Lime and Tropical Fruit have no added caffeine
There is a clear expiration date at the bottom of the package.
Who is Power Gel for and how is it used?
This is a tiny 5-inch package that is really easy to carry around. It doesn’t have to be refrigerated. We are asked on the package to not to litter, which is new for me to see. We are also told to drink this gel every 30-45 minutes during intense exercise.
PowerGel is to be used as a quick way to get some energy during exercise. The reason that water is recommended is that is helps the gel get absorbed, keeps us hydrated (Water during exercise is a must under any circumstances).
Power Gel’s complex carbohydrates make up 80% of each packet with simple carbs the rest. There are only 5 grams of sugar but remember this is a tiny packet. You’ll find vitamins E and C in the amount of 15% of your daily recommended value.
There are 50 mg. of sodium, 40 mg. of potassium and chloride. These are electrolytes that are needed to regulate fluid. Intense exercise should make you sweat which makes you lose water and electrolytes. These three ingredients help replace the electrolytes. The fact that athletes require as much as 6,000 mg. of potassium and that we can have up to 2,400 mg of sodium a day makes the 50 and 40 mg. of these substances seem like very little.
My Tangerine flavor has no fat and all the flavors are either non-fat or low in fat.
The ingredients:
There is no protein in this gel. In addition to what has been mentioned this contains maltodextrin, water, fructose, natural flavor, citric acid, Power Gel amino acid blend (leucine, valine), potassium chloride, Power Gel Booster Blend, salt, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, vitamins c and e.
What it is like and what it did for me:
This is for adults only needless to say.
The package is easy to open. It has a strange texture if you have never felt gel products. It literally gets squeezed out of the package. It is very thick so it comes out slowly which is good because with the size of this you want to have enough for a 2-hour workout. The tangerine tastes better than it smells but I’m not crazy about the taste. It has a tangy sweet taste and is sticky. It isn’t delicious but it isn’t horrible. It is not a liquid so it takes a bit of getting used to that you are actually not drinking this gel. You are sort of licking some of it as it gets squeezed out of the packet.
This is the kind of product that grows on you. In spite of not liking the first package I “drank,” the 2nd and 3rd weren’t as bad. This product only cost me $.49. I can’t buy a cup of coffee and 28 carbohydrates for that price so the value is fantastic. I did buy it at a local discount store where the prices are amazing. The price is normally $1.25. That is a lot for a small package but I would keep one in my gym bag for an emergency bout of no energy. I like Carbo Rush better, though it is more expensive but you get a lot more.
Power Gel does give me a bit of a boost especially if I have had a cup of coffee in the morning. 50 milligrams of caffeine and 28 grams of carbohydrates should give you a push when you start dragging during an athletic performance.
My final thoughts:
It is nice that this only has 5 grams of sugar for those of you who watch your sugar intake. With no protein it is certainly not a meal replacement product. It is for energy replacement only and intended for someone who is training hard for up to 2 hours. Anything less than that, the consensus seems that an energy product probably isn’t necessary. If you are lifting weights for 30 minutes and doing the treadmill for 30 minutes, water alone should be enough. This is for the runner or the weight lifter who is at the gym for 2 hours at a time. I will recommend this product and give it 3 stars because I would personally rather drink something than use the Gel. I am sure more companies will be making gel products if this catches on and I will try them to see if they are any different. In the meantime, for $1.25 it isn’t a bad product to have in your gym bag.
Feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment if you have any questions.
Power Gel energy gel from the makers of PowerBar. This convenient, efficient energy source helps you reach new endurance levels. Formulated with simpl...More at Bike Nashbar
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